This isn’t just Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest.
This is El CASico — the grudge match forged not on the pitch, but in the boardrooms of UEFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Forget friendly handshakes and mutual respect; this Sunday at Selhurst Park promises bile, finger-pointing, and enough bitterness to fill the Thames.
How Forest Snatched Palace’s Dream
Crystal Palace finally achieved glory last season, lifting the FA Cup for the first time in their existence. The reward? A rightful place in the Europa League, millions in prize money, and a chance to parade their new-found status across Europe.
Except UEFA had other plans. Thanks to ex-shareholder John Textor’s grubby fingerprints all over Lyon and Palace, UEFA ruled Palace guilty of a multi-club ownership breach. They were tossed out of the Europa League and shoved down to the gutter of the Conference League.
Enter Nottingham Forest. Steve Cooper may be gone, but Evangelos Marinakis’ men were handed Palace’s seat at the big table. A Europa League spot fell into their laps, worth up to £20 million in lost revenue for the Eagles.
Palace say Forest wrote the tattletale letter to UEFA. Forest shrug and say, “We just played by the rules.” But the effect is the same: Forest got richer, Palace got humiliated.
This is why Selhurst Park will seethe on Sunday.
The Blame Game
Palace fans are baying for blood. Their chairman Steve Parish still can’t stomach how Forest waded into the CAS appeal with their lawyers. Supporters are planning protests, targeting UEFA, Textor, and — most viciously — Forest’s owner.
So, who owns Nottingham Forest? The answer is Evangelos Marinakis: Greek shipping magnate, football oligarch, and the man Palace fans are painting as the villain in this farce. He owns Olympiakos as well, and he’s already survived one ownership juggling act. Now he’ll stride into South London flanked by security, grinning as 20,000 Eagles supporters foam at the mouth.
Forest Look Hungry, Palace Look Starved
Palace’s summer has been a transfer market joke. They’ve spent just £2 million, lost their crown jewel Eberechi Eze to Arsenal (eventually it’ll become official), and may yet see captain Marc Guehi walk. Oliver Glasner — so bullish when he arrived — is already spitting frustration, left with only 14 fit outfield players for their midweek Conference League win over Fredrikstad.
The one shining light? Adam Wharton, who nearly dragged Palace to more than a 1-0. But even he can’t mask the giant creativity void left by Eze.
Meanwhile, Forest have flexed their muscle. Over £118 million splashed on Douglas Luiz, Arnaud Kalimuendo, Omari Hutchinson, and James McAtee. Marinakis might be public enemy number one at Selhurst, but he’s backed his squad like a man intent on rubbing salt in fresh wounds.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s relationship with Marinakis may be fracturing, but results still talk: Forest thumped Brentford 3-1 on opening day, with Chris Wood scoring twice and Morgan Gibbs-White serving up another assist to equal Ian Woan’s club record.
Palace fans glance at Forest’s ambition and see everything they wish their club was. That’s the sting.
History: All Forest, All Day
Here’s the cold reality: Palace haven’t beaten Forest in nine attempts. Nine. You’ve got to go back to 2011 to find a Palace victory over the Tricky Trees.
The last two meetings? 1-1 draws, with Palace’s goals coming from a penalty and Mateta scrambling one in. Forest have always found a way back. And with Palace’s squad gutted, the prospect of Glasner breaking that hoodoo feels thinner than Selhurst’s patience with Parish.
Palace will cling to their Conference League win as proof of resilience, but Sunday is a different beast. Forest arrive rested, stronger, and dripping with bad blood motivation. Palace are weary, hollowed out, and mentally scarred by a summer of humiliation.
Expect Selhurst to roar, expect Glasner to demand fury, but expect Forest to cut them open.
Chris Wood to bully the backline, Gibbs-White to provide, and Palace’s misery to deepen.
Wondering about Nottingham Forest match today? This is the one. Forget your routine fixtures; this is the grudge that matters. For Forest fans checking the Nottingham Forest standings — seventh last season, dreaming higher this time. Europa League football awaits, and Marinakis isn’t here to play small. Palace fans desperate for distraction? Check out Crystal Palace Park events. You might find more joy there than at Selhurst. For die-hards tracking the schedule, keep your eyes on the slate of upcoming Nottingham Forest games — they’ll define whether Nuno keeps his seat or Marinakis swings the axe.
This isn’t just football. This is theatre, litigation, and tribal fury bundled into 90 minutes. El CASico will not be pretty.
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